Earlier today, undefeated pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather revealed that he is indeed requesting 8-ounce gloves for his May 5th showdown with WBA jr. middleweight champion Miguel Cotto. "We are requesting 8-ounce gloves. Hopefully we can get it. If we don't, then we'll go with the 10's. We want 8's and we want blood, sweat and tears," Mayweather stated as he spoke to the media in attendance for the press conference to announce the fight.
Although the fight is taking place in the 154-pound division, where 10-ounce gloves are the norm, Mayweather is hoping that they'll be able to fight with the smaller gloves, a luxury he was not afforded and actually complained about in his last trip to the 154-pound division when he faced Oscar De La Hoya. According to Mayweather, had he been allowed to wear 8-ounce gloves against De La Hoya, he could've inflicted more damage against the bigger opponent. Evidently, it's a fact that he's hoping to prove against the naturally bigger Cotto, who he thinks will be an easy target for his fast and accurate punches.
"I just feel like if a guy been hit the canvas before, it's in the back of his mind that he can go down again," Mayweather explained, noting that Cotto has already touched the canvas in both of his prior losses. "I'm quick on the draw. I'm real quick on the draw, and you got Antonio Margarito that was landing a lot and he's very, very slow; he's slow. We come, we attack quick."
Whether or not they will be allowed to wear 8-ounce gloves for the 154-pound contest remains to be seen, however, since according to the rules of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, "eight ounce gloves are to be used for contestants weighing 135 pounds or less and ten ounce gloves for contestants weighing above 135 pounds." Ironically, that rule was ammended in 2008, when Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito were requesting 8-ounce gloves for their 147-pound clash. Now, the rule reads "contestants weighing in over 135 but not more than 147 pounds may wear 8 ounce gloves in competition if and only if both athletes agree to do so in writing." That being said, it appears as though they will have to make another special request to the Nevada State Athletic Commission if Mayweather hopes to get his wish.
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